Care inspectors condemn Leeds home as ‘inadequate’ for second time in six months

Jonathan Brown

A failing Leeds care home has been condemned by a health watchdog as ‘inadequate’ for the second time in six months.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found that Donisthorpe Hall, in Shadwell Lane, was still in breach of six health care regulations in a new report published this week.

They found instances where a resident with epilepsy had not been given prescribed medicine to prevent seizures and another at risk of choking was not given soft food, while the facility did not have “enough competent staff to meet people’s needs”.

Concerns over a high use of agency staff, workers being “overstretched” and care records showing one resident was bathed only five times in three months were also noted.

Donisthorpe acknowledged efforts to improve had “not been sufficient”, leading to a new management team from BAM Healthcare being called in.

The facility, which can cater to up to 189 residents, was criticised in November for a lack of staff training in areas like the safe handling of medication.

Despite warnings, the new report found only 77 of 149 staff employed for more than 12 weeks had completed “key training tasks” in several areas. It did, however, praise the “kind and caring” approach of staff.

Andrew Brown, chair of trustees at Donisthorpe Hall, said: “We recognise the need for urgent improvement at Donisthorpe Hall and accept that past efforts to improve the care have not been sufficient. Over the past month, we have therefore taken a fresh approach.”

He said systems, communication and training have already been improved, more workers are being recruited and needs assessments have been done to ensure staffing and skill levels better meet people’s needs.